MEDRADSC 2Z03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Gallstone, Sonographer, Superficial Vein
27 Jun 2016
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Before the scan, a relevant history will be taken. This is to check that the patient has fasted appropriately for the scan. This is to find out whether the sonographer should expect altered anatomy, such as a missing gall bladder! This is particularly relevant with gall stones, where patients experience pain after a fatty meal due to the contraction of the gall bladder. For abdominal ultrasound, the patient must fast for at least 6 hours (although this varies slightly from site to site). This is to ensure the patient"s stomach, containing food or gas, will not be superimposed over the organs to be scanned, and also to ensure the gall bladder is appropriately distended. The gall bladder is a reservoir for bile. When a person eats fatty food, the gall bladder contracts, squeezing bile out into the gut to help digest the fat.
